GOP state chair: Would Tancredo bomb Mecca?

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams on Monday questioned whether Tom Tancredo’s agenda as governor would include his stated desires to impeach President Barack Obama and bomb Mecca in response to a nuclear attack on the United States.

Tancredo, the former congressman from Colorado, announced Monday that he will run as a third-party candidate for governor after the two more-moderate Republicans declined his demand that they end their gubernatorial bids and clear the field for more conservative candidates.

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Soon after Tancredo made the announcement, he and Wadhams had a heated exchange during a joint appearance on KHOW, a Denver-area conservative talk-radio station. The exchange was recorded and posted by the liberal blog Think Progress and is currently featured on KHOW’s homepage.

Explaining his decision to run against whomever the GOP nominates, Tancredo said he is “trying to do my best, my level best, to do what I believe is necessary for the conservatives in this state.”

Wadhams, clearly angered by Tancredo’s decision, shot back at the conservative firebrand who has a history of extreme statements.

“What would your agenda be, Tom?” Wadhams asked. “Are you going to keep talking about impeaching Obama and bombing Mecca and all that stuff?”

“You’re talking about this as a candidate for governor,” Wadhams added.

Tancredo shot back that Wadhams previously had no issue with his rhetoric until he decided to challenge Republican candidates.

“All of the sudden now, you’re opposed to my attacks on Obama and my attacks on radical Islam?" he asked. "What does this have to do with this race? Nothing.”

Asked by the host whom he will be supporting during the general election, Wadhams said he is “going to support the Republican nominee.”

“That’s fine. Go right ahead,” Tancredo responded. “No problem, that’s your job, and I don’t care. That’s alright. But the way you have come after me in these last couple of days is really beyond anything I’ve seen.”